Students in the city and surrounding
areas can leave their school bags at home next Thursday , when schools across
the state will observe Vaachan Prerna Diwas or Reading Day as per a government
order.
The
decision to celebrate October 15, the birth anniversary of former President of
India A P J Abdul Kalam, as Vaachan Prerna Diwas in schools across the state
was made by school education minister Vinod Tawde soon after Kalam's death on
July 27. In a government resolution issued on Wednesday , the state asked all
students from Class III to VIII to read non-academic books in school, and
instructed schools to host book exhibitions, implement gift-a-book programmes,
introduce students to well-kn own authors from around the world, and hold
discussions on books. The govern ment has said that almost Rs 6 lakh is
available for the programme.
Going
a step further, the office of the deputy director has asked schools in the
Mumbai region to also allow students to leave their bags home on the day .
“Kalam's writings are an in spiration to students and youth. These activities
will help students develop an interest for reading, which is sorely lacking. So
we created the `school without bags' plan for that day,“ said B B Chavan,
deputy di rector, Mumbai region. Suggested activities for schools in Mumbai inc
lude inviting authors, literature and other subject experts, reading a book
that is not a school textbook and teaching students how to read out loud.
“There should be no kind of pressures in class this day and a positive
environment should be created. This way , students can read what they like and
have fun doing it. Only then will the programme be a success,“ said the
circular issued by Chavan.
Schools
have also been advised to dedicate time on a specific day every month for
reading, host book fairs, organize meets for teachers and keep the school
library updated. They should also award students and teachers who read the
maximum number of books.
However,
with exams just round the corner, schools are not sure if they can have
activities throughout the day .“Our oral and practical exams begin next week,
so we might not be able to dedicate the entire day for these activities. We
will, may be, conduct them for some time during the day . The idea of celebra
ting such days is school is great,“ said Freny Mehta, principal, Alexandra
Girls' Institution, Fort.
Chavan
said the plan is not rigid and schools can make adjustments as required.
Last
year, all schools in the city's south zone marked November 21as No-Textbook Day
. A brainchild of Chavan, schools had hosted various activities such as book
reading sessions, interactions with authors, newspaper reading and making and
book review discussions during school hours. There was participation of more
than 430 schools.
Suggested Timetable
Period 1
| Importance of the Programme
Period 2
| Invite an author, artist, actor or other Subject experts
Period 3
| Teach Students techniques to read out
in class or in public
Period
4, 5 | Students must carry to school a book of their choice and read out
Period
6, 7, 8 | Students must read the books
Period 9
| Feedback Time
Source | Times of India | 8 October 2015
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